{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-find-large-files-on-my-mac","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-large-files-on-my-mac","category":{"id":"mac-storage-basics","title":"Mac storage basics"},"subcategory":{"id":"finding-big-files","title":"Finding big files, Downloads and the Trash"},"question":"How do I find large files on my Mac?","alt_questions":["find big files mac","search files by size mac finder","largest files on macbook","how to see biggest files on mac","find files over 1gb mac","locate large files macos"],"short_answer":"In Finder press Command-F, choose This Mac, set the criterion to File Size is greater than (for example 1 GB). Storage settings' Documents info button also lists large files.","answer_markdown":"Use a Finder search filtered by size:\n\n1. Open a Finder window and press **Command-F**.\n2. Click **This Mac**.\n3. Change the first criterion from Kind to **Other…**, tick **File Size**, then set it to **is greater than** e.g. 1 GB.\n\nYou can also open **System Settings → General → Storage**, click the info button next to **Documents** and review the large-files list.\n\nFinder search won't show files inside app packages or protected folders. Storage Studio's What's Using Space ranks your biggest folders and drills down to the culprit, including places Finder hides. See [What's Using Space](/manual/whats-using-space).","answer_html":"

Use a Finder search filtered by size:

\n
  1. Open a Finder window and press Command-F.
  2. Click This Mac.
  3. Change the first criterion from Kind to Other…, tick File Size, then set it to is greater than e.g. 1 GB.
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You can also open System Settings → General → Storage, click the info button next to Documents and review the large-files list.

\n

Finder search won't show files inside app packages or protected folders. Storage Studio's What's Using Space ranks your biggest folders and drills down to the culprit, including places Finder hides. See What's Using Space.

","answer_text":"Use a Finder search filtered by size:\n\n1. Open a Finder window and press Command-F.\n2. Click This Mac.\n3. Change the first criterion from Kind to Other…, tick File Size, then set it to is greater than e.g. 1 GB.\n\nYou can also open System Settings → General → Storage, click the info button next to Documents and review the large-files list.\n\nFinder search won't show files inside app packages or protected folders. Storage Studio's What's Using Space ranks your biggest folders and drills down to the culprit, including places Finder hides. See What's Using Space.","tags":["large files","finder","search"],"related":[{"id":"mac-storage-basics.how-do-i-see-folder-sizes-in-finder","question":"How do I see folder sizes in Finder?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-see-folder-sizes-in-finder"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-is-the-documents-category-in-storage-settings","question":"What counts as Documents in macOS Storage settings?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-is-the-documents-category-in-storage-settings"},{"id":"mac-storage-basics.what-big-files-can-i-safely-delete","question":"What large files are usually safe to delete on a Mac?","url":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/what-big-files-can-i-safely-delete"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"How do I find large files on my Mac? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"In Finder press Command-F, choose This Mac, set the criterion to File Size is greater than (for example 1 GB). Storage settings' Documents info button also lists large files.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Mac storage basics","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/"},{"name":"How do I find large files on my Mac?","path":"/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-large-files-on-my-mac"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-large-files-on-my-mac","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I find large files on my Mac?","alternateName":["find big files mac","search files by size mac finder","largest files on macbook","how to see biggest files on mac","find files over 1gb mac","locate large files macos"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Use a Finder search filtered by size:\n\n1. Open a Finder window and press Command-F.\n2. Click This Mac.\n3. Change the first criterion from Kind to Other…, tick File Size, then set it to is greater than e.g. 1 GB.\n\nYou can also open System Settings → General → Storage, click the info button next to Documents and review the large-files list.\n\nFinder search won't show files inside app packages or protected folders. Storage Studio's What's Using Space ranks your biggest folders and drills down to the culprit, including places Finder hides. See What's Using Space.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/mac-storage-basics/how-do-i-find-large-files-on-my-mac"}}]},"fragment":"
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Mac storage basics · Finding big files, Downloads and the Trash

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How do I find large files on my Mac?

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Short answer: In Finder press Command-F, choose This Mac, set the criterion to File Size is greater than (for example 1 GB). Storage settings' Documents info button also lists large files.

\n

Use a Finder search filtered by size:

\n
  1. Open a Finder window and press Command-F.
  2. Click This Mac.
  3. Change the first criterion from Kind to Other…, tick File Size, then set it to is greater than e.g. 1 GB.
\n

You can also open System Settings → General → Storage, click the info button next to Documents and review the large-files list.

\n

Finder search won't show files inside app packages or protected folders. Storage Studio's What's Using Space ranks your biggest folders and drills down to the culprit, including places Finder hides. See What's Using Space.

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Last reviewed

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